[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 49 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 49

   Concerning the appointment of a special envoy to Northern Ireland.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 23, 1993

 Mr. Kennedy submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
              referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
   Concerning the appointment of a special envoy to Northern Ireland.

Whereas the list of human rights abuses involving the British Government is 
        lengthy and well documented as evidenced by recent reports from the 
        Norwegian Helsinki Committee, Amnesty International, and the 
        International Helsinki Watch Committee;
Whereas 40 people have been killed since the beginning of the year, the highest 
        death rate attributable to political strife in Northern Ireland since 
        1975;
Whereas the violence will only continue to escalate unless meaningful, all-
        inclusive peace talks are initiated by the British Government to address 
        the conflict in Northern Ireland;
Whereas there has been a long standing and warm alliance between the United 
        States and Great Britain which has been a source of stability and 
        comfort to the people of both nations, especially during this time of 
        rapidly shifting international alliances;
Whereas the political and judicial principles which guide the Nation today, 
        including safeguards painstakingly hewn from the British Magna Carta, 
        urgently compel us to speak out against inequity and abuse no matter 
        where in the world it occurs;
Whereas America's unending commitment to fairness and decency does not 
        distinguish between friend and enemy, criminal or prosecutor, and the 
        American covenant of democracy commits us to protest any wrongdoing and 
        confront any injustice;
Whereas the turmoil and bloodshed will not come to an end until the British 
        authorities, including the military and security forces, are prepared to 
        protect and defend the human rights of all the people of Northern 
        Ireland;
Whereas the United States has taken an active leadership role to encourage peace 
        in the conflict between Iraq and Kuwait, the civil conflict in El 
        Salvador, the conflict between Israel and her neighbors, and elsewhere 
        in the world, but has failed to assume a similar role in the conflict in 
        the north of Ireland; and
Whereas as an ally and a friend, the United States has a unique opportunity to 
        insist that Great Britain adhere to recognized standards of 
        international law in Northern Ireland, and as a leading power in the 
        world community, the United States has a special responsibility to do 
        so: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of the Congress that the President should appoint 
a special envoy who will be personally and actively involved in 
bringing about a solution to the present conflict in Northern Ireland, 
including encouraging and facilitating negotiations among all parties 
to the conflict who agree to end the use of violence.

                                 <all>